Siniavca - Jewish shtetl was located on the road connecting Warsaw and Moscow, between Baranovitz and Kleck. Surrounded by Belorussian villages and forests of prince Radzivil. Immerse in Greenery, garden trees and orchards. A small streaming river went through it. 70 Jewish families lived there. They dealt in crafts and trade but were unique in the fact that most of them dealt in agriculture. Jewish farmers tilled their fields, ploughing, reaping, gathering and carrying on their carriages.

Besides they sought spiritual enrichment in religious tradition and in Hebrew Zionist secular culture.

A great deal was invested in education – inside or outside the shtetl. When the Zionist movement developed, they invited the best teachers for their children. I remember the teachers Adler, Dr. Greenshpon (in Israel), Azriel Nikritz (member of Kibbutz Dgania A in Israel).

In 1914 WW1 broke out and the frons of battles reached the borders of Baranovitz and Siniavka. The Headquarters of the Russian army that camped here ordered that the Jews of Siniavka must leave their abode and wander to the inner Russia. We reached distant places. Many families settled in district city Slutzk and its surroundings.

In 191, after the war and chaos, when the Polish rule settled in our places, the Jews of Siniavka started returning to their Siniavka, except for some families that stayed in Russia. We started rebuilding what was destroyed and organize our life. Our community was adjoined to Kleck from where we received in particular the spiritual and cultural aid.

The Jewish library was a very important institute containing 3500 Hebrew and Yiddish books. The books were bought with the money that was collected at literary-celebrations and shows organized by amateurs. Thanks to the energy and initiative of a Zionist activist, there is here a 4 grade-years Tarbut Hebrew school.

There was a strong struggle between the nationalistic groups [on the one hand] and the students of Polish school and religious groups centered around the Talmud Torah [on the other hand]. The struggle was about the establishment and existence of the Hebrew School. However we were privileged to see this school standing upright. Children speaking Hebrew walked the streets, sang and recited Hebrew poems. There was no house in the shtetl where Hebrew wasn’t heard.

This community of Siniavka was annihilated in the Shoa. We are a scant number of survivors in our independent State of Israel. We will remember them all.